Mounting arrangement for air diffuser in a kerfed ceiling

ABSTRACT

Linear air diffusers are mounted in a suspended kerfed ceiling by coping the opposite ends of the diffusers to provide upwardly directed horizontal surfaces which are positioned beneath the flanges of adjacent pairs of the T-bars which are part of the ceiling support structure. Holding brackets have a sliding connection in the air diffusers and slide over the flange of ceiling T-bars between which the diffusers are positioned. Engagement between the holding brackets and the T-bar flanges supports the diffusers in the ceiling in a manner compatible with the monolithic appearance of the kerfed ceiling.

[ 51 Dec. 24, 1974 United States Patent [191 Lambert 9/l973 Dean, Jr. D

Primary Examine rWilliam E. Wayner Robert R. Lambert, Glendora, Calif.

Air Factors, Inc., Redlands, Calif.

Aug. 27, 1973 [57] ABSTRACT Linear air diffusers are mounted in a suspended kerfed ceiling by coping the opposite ends of the diffusers to Assignee:

Filed:

21 Appl. No.: 391,793

provide upwardly directed horizontal surfaces which are positioned beneath the flanges of adjacent pairs of the T-bars which are part of the ceiling support structure. Holding brackets have a sliding connection in the 9 40 1 52 43 39; air diffusers and slide over the flange of ceiling T-bars between which the diffusers are positioned. Engage- [58] Field of Search ment between the holding brackets and the T-bar flanges supports the diffusers in the ceiling in a man- [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS ner compatible with the monolithic appearance of the kerfed ceiling.

3 492,935 2/1970 Thomas 98/40 D 3,673,945 7/1972 Rachlin et 98/40 D 11 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to air diffusers and the manner in which such diffusers are supported in a suspended ceiling, more particularly, in a kerfed ceiling.

Suspended ceilings utilizing a plurality of ceiling tiles and a network of inverted T-bars to support the ceiling tiles are well known. One form of such ceiling is known as a kerfed ceiling. In a kerfed ceiling, the T-bar flanges are engaged in notches in the edges of the rectangular ceiling tiles so that the ceiling tiles provided a monolithic appearance. Kerfed ceilings present a problem with regard to supporting air diffusers in the ceiling in a manner which is compatible with the monolithic appearance.

This invention is concerned with this problem and has among its general objects to provide a mounting arrangement for air diffusers which does not disrupt the monolithic appearance of the kerfed ceiling.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION For the achievement of that and other objects, this invention proposes a mounting arrangement for an air diffuser wherein oppositely facing, generally horizontal surfaces are provided in an air diffuser assemblyQThe air diffuser is positioned so that the flange of the ceiling tile support member is positioned between those oppositely facing surfaces. With this arrangement the air diffuser is supported from the flange of the support member which would otherwise fit into the notch of a ceiling tile in a kerfed ceiling.

Preferably, the ends of an air diffuser are provided with an upwardly facing, generally horizontal surface. The diffuser is positioned so that the horizontal surface so provided is positioned below the flange of the support member otherwise intended to fit into the ceiling tile edge notch in a kerfed ceiling. A holding bracket has a sliding connection on the air diffuser and includes a horizontal, downwardly facing surface. The holding bracket can be moved to a position with horizontal surface thereof overlying the support member flange so that the flange is held between the horizontal surface of the bracket and the horizontal, upwardly facing surface provided on the air diffuser.

The diffuser defines an air slot below the flange of the support member and in the plane ofthe ceiling. Thus, the only interruption in the monolithic appearance of the kerfed ceiling is the air slot and the support arrangement for the diffuser has no effect whatsoever on the ceiling appearance as it is hidden from sight above the ceiling tile.

. Preferably, the holding bracket includes a base member, which is part of the sliding connection of the bracket on the air diffuser, and also includes an arm projecting laterally relative to the air diffuser and on which the horizontal, downwardly facing surface is provided. It is also preferred that the base of the holding bracket be engaged between outwardly spaced grooves on the air diffuser.

A single air diffuser may be used at an isolated location or a series of elongated diffusers can be arranged end-to-end to define an elongated uninterrupted air slot. In either caseit is desirable to provide holding brackets at each of opposite ends of the air diffuser and in pairs at each end. Other objects and advantages will be pointed out in, or be apparent from, the specification and claims, as will obvious modifications of the embodiment shown in the drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective illustrating a kerfed ceiling with a T-bar support;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of an air diffuser;

FIG.'3 is a side elevation of two linear air diffusers constructed as illustrated in FIG. 2 and arranged endto-end at a main runner of the ceiling support structure; and

FIG. 4 is a further side elevation of the arrangement of FIG. 3.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT With reference to the drawings, a suspended ceiling of the kerfed type includes a plurality of main runners I0 and ceiling tiles 12. In a conventional manner, a network of main runners l0 and cross runners (not shown), are suspended by wires from the actual room ceiling. The ceiling tiles are rectangular and are notched along all four edges, only one notched edge is illustrated (see FIG. 1) to illustrate that the notch'is provided intermediate the opposed faces 14 and 16 of the ceiling tiles. The notches l8 fit over the flange. 20 projecting from both sides of the vertical leg 22,0f the T-bar. The ceiling tile notches fit over the flanges around thefour edges of the-ceiling tile and in that manner the ceiling tiles are supported in the ceiling. As is well known, and therefore not illustrated, this type of kerfed ceiling construction provides a monolithic ceiling appearance wherein the support for the ceiling tiles is completely hidden from sight.

As is conventional practice for suspended ceilings, whether of the kerfed type or the type wherein the supporting T-bars are exposed at the under-surface of the ceiling, air diffusers are arranged in the ceiling in a desired pattern to deliver air to and accept return air from the room beneath the ceiling. One of the problems presented by the kerfed ceiling is to support the air diffusers in the ceiling without interrupting its otherwise monolithic appearance. This invention is concerned with that problem.

In the preferred embodiment illustrated in the drawings, air diffuser 24 includes spaced walls 26 and 28. These wallsextend vertically relative to the plane of the ceiling and terminate in flanges 30 and 32 between which a'linear air slot 34 is defined. The air slot is defined virtually in the plane of the ceiling. It should be noted at this point that throughout this application des- I ignations of vertical and horizontal are with reference to the plane of the ceiling, i.e., vertical is generally at right angle to the ceiling plane whereas horizontal is parallel to the ceiling plane. To complete the general description of the air diffuser, an air passage is defined between walls 26 and 28 and communicating with air slot 34, air either being discharged through the air slot or returning from the room through the slot to be discharged into the attic usually existing between the suspended ceiling and the actual structural ceiling. The tops of walls 26 and 28 are provided with' keeper notches 36 and 38 in which a linear air tube or other type delivery duct can be mounted. The'air tube would be connected to a source of air, the air tube construction and the connection'to the air source being conventional have not been illustrated in the drawings.

As illustrated in FIG. 2, linear air diffuser 24 is positioned between an adjacent pair of main T-bar runners hidden from sight from within the room being serviced,

a specific construction is provided at the opposite ends of the air diffuser. More particularly, the ends of walls 26 and 28 are coped to provide generally horizontal, upwardly facing exposed surfaces 44 and 46.

The uppermost portion of each of the walls 26 and 28 terminates, short of the ends of those walls, in vertical edges 48 and 50 which extend downwardly to the horizontal, upwardly facing surfaces 44 and 46, the later also being spaced vertically above the flanges 30 and 32 which define air slot 34. With this arrangement, the air diffuser is positioned at the main runner such that its surfaces 44 and 46 can be positioned beneath flange 20 of the T-bar. As part of the support arrangement, one or more holding brackets 52 and 54 have a sliding connection on theair diffuse and are provided with More specifically and with reference to holding 4 bracket 54, (holding bracket 52 being identical in construction and connection into the air diffuser so that the description of one will suffice for both), the holding bracket includes a base 60 and an arm 62 which projects laterally from linear air diffuser 28 and upon which the downwardly facing horizontal surface 58 is provided. Grooves 64 and 66 are provided on wall 28, and comparable grooves 68 and 70 are provided on wall 26. These pairs of grooves open toward each other and base 60, and the base of holding bracket 52, are engaged between respective pairs of these grooves. The engagement of base 60 in these grooves provides the sliding connection of the holding bracket on the air diffuser.

As is perhaps best illustrated in FIG. 3, arm 62 is located slightly out from the edge 61 of base 60 and a set back 63 is provided on the base so that when surface 58, or 56, is positioned over flange 20, base 60 is still engaged in grooves64 and 66. Holding bracket 52 has a similar construction and a comparable relationship is maintained between it and grooves 68 and 70. In FIG. 3 support bracket 54 is shown in the support position. The portion of the ceiling tile above the notch may be trimmed back to accommodate the holding bracket. The amount of trimming can be reduced, if desired, by increasing the set back 63.

Preferably, the holding brackets are provide in pairs at the opposite ends of the linear air diffuser, the arrangement at the right end of the linear air diffuser as viewed in FIG. 2 has not been described in detail but the visible parts of the holding brackets and their connection into thelinear air diffuser, and the diffuser itself, have been provided with the same numbers as those on the left end but with the distinguishing letter l0, and would be oriented parallel to the cross T-bar a so that if necessary the description of the left end can be read on the right end by merely adding the letter a to the numerals in the above description.

With this arrangement, it can be seen that a secure support arrangement is provided for the air diffuser but in a manner wherein all of the support elements are hidden from sight above the ceiling tiles and therefore do not interfere with the monolithic appearance of thekerfed ceiling. The only interruption in the kerfed ceiling is the air slot 34.

FIG. 3 represents an extension of this invention. Specifically, a single linear air diffuser can be supported between adjacent main runners at an isolated position in the ceiling or, as illustrated in FIG. 3, a number of linear air diffusers can be positioned end-to-end and supported on the main runners but the only interruption in the ceiling will be a uniform, uninterrupted linear air slot. This provides an extremely attractive and acceptable architectural ceiling.

Because of the coped construction atthe ends of the air diffusers, sponge gasket pads -70 and 72 (see FIG. 4) arep'rovided at the T-bar to sealthe openings and prevent air leakage. Similar sponge gasket pads can be provided if necessary to prevent'air leakage at the joint between the linear air tubes which fit into keepers 36 and 38 at the coped ends of the air diffusers but,:since this is not necessary, to an understanding of the invention, this has not been illustrated.

In FIG. 3, the same numerals have been provided to like parts of the added diffuser 74. It should also be appreciated that more than the two illustrated air diffusers can be arranged end-to-end Although but one embodiment of the presentinvention has been illustrated and described, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that .various changes and modifications may be made therein without departing from the spirit of the invention or from the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In a suspended ceiling including a plurality of main runner T-bars, a plurality of cross runner T-bars arranged at right angles to said main runners, each T-bar having a horizontal flange extending from opposite sides of a vertical leg, a' plurality of ceiling tiles the edges of which are kerfed to provide horizontal notches, said ceiling tiles assembled in said ceiling with the flanges of said T-bars positioned in respective ones of said notches so that said ceiling has generallyv a monolithic appearance, and at least one linear air diffuser positioned between an adjacent pair of said T- bars and defining a generally linear air slot, the improvement-of the opposite ends of said air diffuser being coped to provide upwardly facing exposed surfaces,

said air diffuser arranged with said upwardly facing surfaces positioned beneath the flanges of the T- bars between which said air diffuser is positioned and said air slot being located at the plane of said ceiling, v

a holding bracket positioned adjacent each end of said air diffuser and each bracket including .a downwardly facing surface,

and means defining a sliding connection of said holding bracket on said air diffuser in which connection said holding bracket is slideable in a horizonal direction so that said holding brackets are slideable toward 'and away from a position wherein the downwardly facing surfaces of said holding brackets overlie the flanges of said T-bars between which said air diffuser is positioned to provide the support for said air diffuser in said ceiling.

2. The combination of claim 1 wherein each of said holding brackets comprises a base member which is a part of said means defining said sliding connection;

and an arm connected to said base member and projecting laterally relative to said air diffuser,

said downwardly facing surface of said holding bracket being provided on said arm.

3. The combination of claim I wherein said air diffuser includes generally spaced walls projecting upwardly from'the plane of the ceiling, said means defining said sliding connection including means at each of said walls'defining spaced grooves adjacent the ends of said air diffuser and opening toward each other and also including a base membet on each of said holding brackets slideably engaged between said grooves,

and said holding brackets also including an arm connected to said base member and projecting laterally relative to each of said diffuser walls,

said downwardly facing surface of said holding bracket being provided on said arm.

4. The combination of claim 3 wherein said air diffuser includes spaced inverted T-shaped members the central legs of which project upwardly from the plane of said ceiling to provide said spaced walls, the inner surfaces of said legs defining an air passage communicating with said air slot and said spaced grooves being provided on the outer surfaces of said legs.

5. The combination of claim 1 wherein said air diffuser includes generally spaced walls projecting upwardly from the plane of the ceiling and extending the length of said air diffuser,

the upper portions of each of said walls terminating short of the longitudinal ends of said diffuser in a vertical edge extending downwardly 'to a horizontally extending surface which provide said upwardly facing, exposed surfaces, 7

said means defining said sliding connection including means at each of said walls defining spaced grooves adjacent the ends of said air diffuser opening toward each other, the uppermost of said grooves terminating at said vertical edge and the lowermost extending beyond said vertical edge,

and said holding brackets each also including an arm connected to said base member and projecting laterally relative to each of saiddiffuser walls,

said downwardly facing surfaces of said holding brackets being provided on said arms.

6. The combination of claim 3 including a plurality of air diffusers arranged end-toend to define an elongated air slot,

wherein each of said air diffusers have the defined coped ends and are positioned between adjacent pairs of T-bars,

and wherein each of said diffusers include said defined holding brackets and the defined sliding connection between said holding brackets and said walls.

7. A support arrangement for an air diffuser in a kerfed ceiling wherein a plurality of kerfed ceiling tiles are engaged on flanged ceiling support members and comprising, in combination an air diffuser located at one of said flanged ceiling support members, I

means providing a first generally horizontally extending surface on said air diffuser spaced upwardly from the plane of said ceiling,

a holding bracket connected to said air diffuser,

means defining a second generally horizontally extending surface on said holding bracket but facing oppositely relative to said first horizontally extending surface,

and said air diffuser and holding bracket positioned relative to said flanged ceiling support member with the flange of said ceiling support member positioned between said first and second horizontally extending surfaces.

8. The combination of claim 7 wherein said air diffuser is positioned between an adjacent pair of said ceiling support members,

and a combination of said first and second horizontally extending surfaces as'defined is provided for each of said ceiling support members.

9. An air diffuser assembly comprising, in combination means defining first generally horizontally extending surfaces at the opposite ends of said air diffuser,

a holding bracket positioned adjacent each end of said air diffuser and each bracket including a second generally horizontal extending surface facing oppositely relative to said first surface,

and means defining a sliding connection of said holding bracket on said air diffuser in which connection said holding bracket is slideable in a horizontal direction so that said holding brackets are slideable toward and away from a position wherein the first and second surfaces are in generally opposed positions so that the flange of a ceiling support member can be positioned therebetween to provide the support for said air diffuser in a suspended ceiling.

10. The combination of claim 9 wherein said air diffuser includes generally spaced walls projecting upwardly from the plane of the ceiling,

said means defining said sliding connection including means at each of said walls defining spaced grooves adjacent the-ends of said air diffuser and opening toward each other and also including a basememher on each of said holding brackets slideably engaged between said grooves, j

and said holding brackets also including an arm connected to said base member and projecting laterally relative to each of said diffuser walls, said second surface being provided on said arm. 11. The combination of claim 9 wherein said air diffuser includes generally spaced inverted T-shaped walls extending the length of said air diffuser,

the upper portions of each of said walls terminating short of the longitudinal ends of said diffuser in vertical edges extending downwardly to a horizontally extending surface which provide said first surfaces,

said means defining said sliding connection including means at each of said walls defining spaced grooves adjacent the-ends of said air diffuser opening toward each other, the uppermost of said grooves terminating at said vertical edge and the lowermost extending beyond said vertical edge, the T-flanges of said walls being spaced below said first surfaces and spaced to define an air slot, and saidholding brackets each also including an arm connected to said base member and projecting laterally relative toeach of said diffuser walls, said second surfaces bein g provided on said arms. 

1. In a suspended ceiling including a plurality of main runner T-bars, a plurality of cross runner T-bars arranged at right angles to said main runners, each T-bar having a horizontal flange extending from opposite sides of a vertical leg, a plurality of ceiling tiles the edges of which are kerfed to provide horizontal notches, said ceiling tiles assembled in said ceiling with the flanges of said T-bars positioned in respective ones of said notches so that said ceiling has generally a monolithic appearance, and at least one linear air diffuser positioned between an adjacent pair of said T-bars and defining a generally linear air slot, the improvement of the opposite ends of said air diffuser being coped to provide upwardly facing exposed surfaces, said air diffuser arranged with said upwardly facing surfaces positioned beneath the flanges of the T-bars between which said air diffuser is positioned and said air slot being located at the plane of said ceiling, a holding bracket positioned adjacent each end of said air diffuser and each bracket including a downwardly facing surface, and means defining a sliding connection of said holding bracket on said air diffuser in which connection said holding bracket is slideable in a horizonal direction so that said holding brackets are slideable toward and away from a position wherein the downwardly facing surfaces of said holding brackets overlie the flanges of said T-bars between which said air diffuser is positioned to provide the support for said air diffuser in said ceiling.
 2. The combination of claim 1 wherein each of said holding brackets comprises a base member which is a part of said means defining said sliding connection, and an arm connected to said base member and projecting laterally relative to said air diffuser, said downwardly facing surface of said holding bracket being provided on said arm.
 3. The combination of claim 1 wherein said air diffuser includes generally spaced walls projecting upwardly from the plane of the ceiling, said means defining said sliding connection including means at each of said walls defining spaced grooves adjacent the ends of said air diffuser and opening toward each other and also including a base member on each of said holding brackets slideably engaged between said grooves, and said holding brackets also including an arm connected to said base member and projecting laterally relative to each of said diffuser walls, said downwardly facing surface of said holding bracket being provided on said arm.
 4. The combination of claim 3 wherein said air diffuser includes spaced inverted T-shaped members the central legs of which project upwardly from the plane of said ceiling to provide said spaced walls, the inner surfaces of said legs defining an air passage communicating with said air slot and said spaced grooves being provided on the outer sUrfaces of said legs.
 5. The combination of claim 1 wherein said air diffuser includes generally spaced walls projecting upwardly from the plane of the ceiling and extending the length of said air diffuser, the upper portions of each of said walls terminating short of the longitudinal ends of said diffuser in a vertical edge extending downwardly to a horizontally extending surface which provide said upwardly facing, exposed surfaces, said means defining said sliding connection including means at each of said walls defining spaced grooves adjacent the ends of said air diffuser opening toward each other, the uppermost of said grooves terminating at said vertical edge and the lowermost extending beyond said vertical edge, and said holding brackets each also including an arm connected to said base member and projecting laterally relative to each of said diffuser walls, said downwardly facing surfaces of said holding brackets being provided on said arms.
 6. The combination of claim 3 including a plurality of air diffusers arranged end-to-end to define an elongated air slot, wherein each of said air diffusers have the defined coped ends and are positioned between adjacent pairs of T-bars, and wherein each of said diffusers include said defined holding brackets and the defined sliding connection between said holding brackets and said walls.
 7. A support arrangement for an air diffuser in a kerfed ceiling wherein a plurality of kerfed ceiling tiles are engaged on flanged ceiling support members and comprising, in combination an air diffuser located at one of said flanged ceiling support members, means providing a first generally horizontally extending surface on said air diffuser spaced upwardly from the plane of said ceiling, a holding bracket connected to said air diffuser, means defining a second generally horizontally extending surface on said holding bracket but facing oppositely relative to said first horizontally extending surface, and said air diffuser and holding bracket positioned relative to said flanged ceiling support member with the flange of said ceiling support member positioned between said first and second horizontally extending surfaces.
 8. The combination of claim 7 wherein said air diffuser is positioned between an adjacent pair of said ceiling support members, and a combination of said first and second horizontally extending surfaces as defined is provided for each of said ceiling support members.
 9. An air diffuser assembly comprising, in combination means defining first generally horizontally extending surfaces at the opposite ends of said air diffuser, a holding bracket positioned adjacent each end of said air diffuser and each bracket including a second generally horizontal extending surface facing oppositely relative to said first surface, and means defining a sliding connection of said holding bracket on said air diffuser in which connection said holding bracket is slideable in a horizontal direction so that said holding brackets are slideable toward and away from a position wherein the first and second surfaces are in generally opposed positions so that the flange of a ceiling support member can be positioned therebetween to provide the support for said air diffuser in a suspended ceiling.
 10. The combination of claim 9 wherein said air diffuser includes generally spaced walls projecting upwardly from the plane of the ceiling, said means defining said sliding connection including means at each of said walls defining spaced grooves adjacent the ends of said air diffuser and opening toward each other and also including a base member on each of said holding brackets slideably engaged between said grooves, and said holding brackets also including an arm connected to said base member and projecting laterally relative to each of said diffuser walls, said second surface being provided on said arm.
 11. The combination of claim 9 wherein said air diffuser includes generally spaced inverted T-shaped walls extending the length of said air diffuser, the upper portions of each of said walls terminating short of the longitudinal ends of said diffuser in vertical edges extending downwardly to a horizontally extending surface which provide said first surfaces, said means defining said sliding connection including means at each of said walls defining spaced grooves adjacent the ends of said air diffuser opening toward each other, the uppermost of said grooves terminating at said vertical edge and the lowermost extending beyond said vertical edge, the T-flanges of said walls being spaced below said first surfaces and spaced to define an air slot, and said holding brackets each also including an arm connected to said base member and projecting laterally relative to each of said diffuser walls, said second surfaces being provided on said arms. 